Vintage Sanitary Goods and a Modern Use for Them

Ever wondered what women did before tampons? I have (okay so perhaps I once had too much free time on my hands) and so I looked into it. Here’s the lowdown…

Before their modern counterparts things were quite different. In early years women even had to wear a special lady belt under their girdle to keep themselves in check. Here are two very fine examples of vintage sanitary products used by ladies in bygone times. First a "Perfect" Towel by British brand Hosezene circa 1930s. Marketed as 'A boon to ladies when travelling'. I'm sure it certainly was that.

Hosezens “perfect” compressed towl in it’s vintage packaging with original packaging (coming soon)

...and here's a slightly later Santowel circa 1950s by "Southalls" of Birmingham for use in an automatic machine (I can only assume this means either a vending or washing machine).

Southalls 1950s Compressed Santowel with original packaging (coming soon)

Vintage WC at Blackbird Tea rooms

What lovely vintage packaging for just a functional product. There's some rather good further reading on the subject by the Powerhouse Museum of Australia here.

You might be wondering why one would buy these from a shop like ours when we all have access these days to mod cons. Well, think laterally. Some years ago I saw a wonderful alternative use for them when I visited the Blackbird Tea Room in Brighton. This beautiful retro teashop had transformed their outdoors WC into a 1940s inspired 'powder room' by filling it with lovely display of old fixtures and fittings, and a pretty old wall cabinet full of vintage products and vintage packaging.

The adorable WC interior at Blackbird Tearooms, Brighton

Here’s another example of how vintage packaging and other daily use products can transform your bathroom. Photo by MIchael Pepper (@shortformichael)

Personally I'm all in it for the packaging, what are your thoughts? Leave us a comment